Signal apparatus



y 1944. F. R. BRIDG-ES Re. 22,514

SIGNAL APPARATUS Original Filed April 19, 1940 v 3 Shets-Sheet 1 July11, 1944. F. R. BRIDGES SIGNAL APPARATUS I ,Original Filed April 19,1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 7 July 11, 1944. F. R. BRIDGES SIGNAL APPARA USOriginal Filed April 19, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 CONT/201mb BY Maw/MReissued July 11, 1944 22,514 SIGNAL APPARATUS Frank R. Bridges,Needham, Mass, assignor to The Gamewell Company, Newton Upper Falls,Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Original No. 2,270,925,dated/January 21, 1942, Serial No. 330,581, April 19, 1940. Applicationfor reissue January 25, 1943, Serial No. 473,517

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to signal apparatus, and more particularlyto fire alarm signal boxes constructed to insure transmission of signalsunder a, wide variety of adverse conditions.

The apparatus described in the Beach Reissue Patent 20,449,, reissuedJuly 20, 1937, is a box which will operate to transmit a signal undermost adverse conditions that can be expected to arise, such as those dueto open lines, ground faults, and substantially any faulty electricalcondition except a break in the line on both sides of the box. Thepresent invention has for its object to extend the ability of the box totransmit under adverse conditions, particularly those due to mechanicalfaults such as approaching exhaustion of the energy of the main spring.

In the box described in the Beach patent, as well a in other types offire alarm boxes, the spring may be left. through carelessness orotherwise, in only a partially Wound condition. If the box is pulledWhile the line is busy, the noninterfering characteristics may preventthe box from gaining any control over the system until the spring iscompletely run down. In the box described in the Beach patent means areprovided for stopping the train before the spring becomes completelyunwound so that sufficient energy may remain in the spring to permit asubsequent operation of the box.

According to the present invention means are provided to insureconversion of the box for signaling over an emergency circuit wheneverthe spring reaches a predetermined state of approaching exhaustion. Thismeans is preferably mechanical being operated by the spring itself, andoccurs at a time when the spring still has suflicient energy to transmitat least one complete cycle through the emergency circuit. If,therefore, the box after being pulled has approached a state ofexhaustion due to ,a busy line, the emergency connection will beautomatically thrown into operation even though no electrical faultexists which would operate a box or" the type described in the Beachpatent.

invention is further effective to condition the box for emergencysignaling in the event of spring breakage, and thus to give a warningsignal to direct attention to a condition which might otherwise escapedetection.

The invention will be herein specifically illusrated and described asapplied to a box of the type described in the Beach patent, but thefeatures of the present invention are applicable to boxes of othertypes.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of so much of a firealarm box as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention,the box being shown in its normal inactive condition; Fig. 2 is a viewof the box under normal signaling conditions; Fig. 3 is a drawingshowing the disposition of the parts under the condition of approachingexhaustion of the energy of the main spring; Figs. 4 and 5 are detailviews illustrating the operation of the present invention;

w Fig. 6 is a detail view of the code wheel and key break lever; Figs. 7and 8 are detail views to be referred to, and Fig. 9- is a circuitdiagram.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated so much of a box as is necessary topresent an understanding of the invention. These figures will berecognized a similar to Figures 10 and 11 of the abovementioned Beachreissue patent. Certain parts are exactly duplicated and are similarlynumbered herein, and a complete description of such parts isunnecessary. I shall, therefore, describe in detail only those partswhich are new to the present box or those which have been changed insome particular. Certain parts have also been omitted from the Beach boxand these omissions will be mentioned in the course of the description.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the are the same as in theBeach box. The master plate is pivoted on a frame at 38. Pivoted at, 43on the master plate is the switch arm I4 I carrying at its end the contactor 18 which is to engage the emergency contacts 13, 14 and I1,particularly shown in Fig. 2 of the Beach patent. The tail of the switcharm Ml, however, instead of normally abutting the pivot 38, is shortenedas indicated at 20 3 and its end engages a dog 202 extending upwardlyfrom a projection 204 on a control plate 2138, which is to be presentlydescribed. The dog 202, when in normal position as indicated in Fig. 1,holds the switch arm MI in the same position in which it is normallyheld in Fig. 10 of the Beach patent. For the spring I42, which in theBeach patent is connected between the switch arm I41 and a. fixed partof the frame, there is substituted a spring 208 which is connected atone end to a pin ZIO on the switch arm Ml adjacent to the pivot 43, andat the other end to the control plate 205, as indicated at 2&2. Thespring, therefore, normally tends to maintain the switch arm MI and thecontrol plate 2% in the positions indicated in Fig. l.

The latch arm I31 which normally holds the switch arm MI in the positionof Fig. l, is similar wheel 5| to which the rounds counting'disk 4| isattached. The control plate normally bears against and is positioned bythe main Spring shaft 4. The plate has a projection 22!) provided with apm 222 normally engaged by the tail 2|6 of the arm I31. .A portion 224of the plate extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the gear 5| andis provided with an upstanding projection 226 to which is secured aninwardly extending contact member or follower 228 adjacent to the mainspring I and adapted to be engaged thereby when the latter unwinds to apredetermined extent (Figs. 4 and 5).

The present box also differs from the Beach box in the followingparticulars: The armature is held down, when the box is inactive, by atail 229 on the stop dog 4|), instead of being in retracted position.The part I22 which is most clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the Beachpatent is here omitted because the positive latching action at 2|4, 2| 5renders it unnecessary. Furthermore, much of the rounds countingmechanism shown in Figs. 17 to 19 of the Beach patent is omitted, aswill presently appear.-

The positions of the control plate under nor.- mal and emergencyconditions are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. Normally thefollower 228 is out of engagement with the spring and is not engagedthereby during a normal signaling operation. If all of the conditionsare such that the spring unwinds unduly the outer convolution of thespring engages the member 223 and swings the plate 206 about the pivot2|8.

This condition is shown in Fig. 5. The end of the main spring isattached to the post 2 so that the spring in unwinding assumes theunsymmetrical shape indicated in Fig. 5, whereby upon engagement of thespring with the member 228 an outward force is applied to the latterwhich causes the plate to swing in a counterclockwise direction. Whenthe plate swings into the position of Fig. 5, the pin 222 on the end ofthe projecting arm 220 slides along a cam surface 230 on the tail 2|6 ofthe arm I31. This action lifts the upper end of the arm is! to unlatchthe switch arm l4l, permitting the latter to swing under the tension ofthe spring 208 and carry the contact roller 18 into engagement with theemergency signal contacts 13, 14 and H. The emergency position of theparts is shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that as soon as the arm I 4|is unlatched, the square stud 2|5 rides under the upper and face of thearm I31 and continues to move the latter outwardly, so that when thecondition of Fig. 3 is reached the cam surface 230 on the tail of thelatch arm has moved away from the pin 222. A flat surface 23| at theextreme end of the latch arm I3! is supported on one of the faces of thesquare stud 2|5 when the condition of Fig. 3 is reached.

The rounds measuring gear 5| and disk 4| are as in the Beach patent andcontrolled by a clutching arrangement illustrated in Fig. 14 of saidpatent, except that no ratchet teeth are provided on the wheel 47 andall parts numbered from I52 to I61 (shown particularly in Figs. 1'7 to20 of the Beach patent) are omitted. These parts are used in the Beachbox to stop the train after it has operated inefiectively for apredetermined number of rounds. In the present invention thistrain-stopping mechanism is not used since the emergency connection isinsured before the spring reaches complete exhaustion. Means areprovided, however, to prevent attempted tripping of the box after thespring has reached substantial exhaustion. This is accomplished by astop block 232 carried on the upper side of the plate 206 and adapted tobe vmoved into the path of 2. depending lug 234 on The variousconditions of operation will now.

be described.

For normal signaling the box operates exactly;

as described in the Beach patent. Upon manual tripping of the box themaster plate 31 is rotated clockwise by the projection 36. The pivot 43is thus swung outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the tailof the stopdog 40 moves off.

the pin 44 to permit the train to start. The upper end of the arm MI isheld latched by the arm l3! so that the tail 260 of the arm |4| movesout of engagement with the lug 262 on the projecting part of the switchplate 206. This is equivalent to the condition illustrated in Fig. 13 ofthe Beach patent in which the tail of the switch arm |4| has movedoutwardly from engagement with the pivot I38. Assuming the line to be inproper condition and not otherwise busy, the code wheel turns through acomplete cycle, usually four rounds, during which time the key. breaklever or sender arm 93 (Fig. 6) is operated by the code wheel l8 to sendthe particular distinctive signal determined by the code projections onthe wheel. During this normal signaling operation the armature 88 of themagnet is held attracted throughout the whole cycle. At the end of thecycle the train is stopped by engagement of the pin 44 with the tail ofthe stop dog 46.

For emergency signaling dictated by an electrical fault the box alsooperates as described in the Beach patent. For example, in the'case of abroken line or a short circuit across the box, the code wheel makes onetest round during which the armature 88 is in retracted position.Thereafter the arm MI is automatically unlatched and it swings about itspivot 43 to engage the emergency contacts after which a complete cycle(four rounds) is connected for emergency circuit transmission. Tomeasure off the required number of rounds the disk 42 is controlled bythe clutching mechanism shown in Fig. 14 of the Beach patent. At theconclusion of the four signaling rounds the box is restored to normalinactive condition.

The follower 228 is so adjusted that under the conditions describedabove, if the main engaged by the main sp in If the box when trippedfinds the line busy, the code wheel will continue to run ineffectivelyuntil the interference no longer exists, following. which .the box wintransmit its own signal. This condition most frequently arises when thebox. istripped during transmission of a signal byanother box. In such acasethe armature 88 instead of being held in retracted position duringone full test round,.will be attracted and retracted .at least onceduring each round because oi the opening and closing of the line throughthe action of the other box. Under such conditions the sender arm 93cannot be released and thebox is inefiective to interfere with thepreviously operated box. Since the main spring When fully wound has acapacity for a large number of rounds, usuallytwenty-four. it will not,under ordinary circumstances, approach exhaustion during signaltransmission by the other box. Therefore, when the line is cleared thebox will be free to transmit its signal as above described.

There are, however, someinstances in which the spring mayapproach'exhaustion before having an opportunity to transmit its signal.For example, through carelessnes the spring might not have beensufficiently wound. Again, it is possible that anumber of other boxesmay have been pulled and the conditions maybe such that the box underdiscussion cannot gain control of the line. Another possiblecircumstance is that a fluctuating short circuit'may exist acros the boxso that the magnet instead of being maintained fully retracted during atest round, ma. be repeatedly attracted and retracted. thus givingtheeffect of a busy line, but without any possibility for the box toassumecontrol. In any such instance the spring continues to unwind. As thespring. approaches exhaustion, but while it still retains capacity foroperation through several rounds, the spring engages the follower 228and swings the control plate 7. 86 counterclockwise, thereby operatingthe latching arm I-31 to unlatch the switch arm I4! and convert theconnections to the emergency signaling circuit. Thereafter the boxmeasures off four rounds during whichthe box is capable oftransmittingthrough-the emergency circuit.

The operation of the box now depends. on whether or not an emergencycircuit connection ispermanently established at the central office. Theemergency circuit is usually a ground circuit and the central oflice mayhave a permanon-t ground connection as indicated. for example, in Fig.9, corresponding toFig. 22 of the Beach patent. or it may have a'rnanualswitching arrangement to permit a ground connection only when desired.as indicated in Fig. 21 of the Beach patent. For use with boxes of thepresent invention the permanent ground connection at the central ofliceis preferred and the operation of the box will first be described inconnection with such a system.

In Fig. 9, the central station has a transformer T. the primary of whichis connected to anysuitable alternating current source, whi e thesecondary is connected across the input diagonal ofa rectifier bridgecomprising four rectifiers U,

V,;W and Z. The upper end of the transformer H winding is connected toground through a re corder R. The outgoing lines are connected toopposite corners of the rectifier bridge through recorders A and J orother manifesting devices. The lines include boxes indicated at C, 'D,E, F

and G; the internal connections of box E being shown diagrammatically.

Under normal conditions, the line carries full wave rectified current.Under emergency conditions, contact 18 is closed on contacts 13, 14

type, will be out out, and the box which has been converted foremergency signaling will transmit over the ground and line circuits. Ifthe conversion to the emergency connection has been brought about byapproaching exhaustion of the spring during transmission of a signal,the box will transmit the remainder of the signal over both the groundand line circuits. In any such case the measuring disk counts off onecomplete mml-e (four rounds).

The contact member 228 is preferably so adjusted that at the completionof the four-round signaling cycle described above, the lug 232 will comealmost but not quite into line with the s'topblock 234' on the controlplate 206. This condition is illustrated in Fig. '7, and occurs at atime when suflicient energy still remains in the main sprin'g'totransmit another complete cycle upon a subsequent tripping of the box.When the parts 232, 234 are in the relative positions indicated in Fig.7 the box is left in the conditlon with the emergency connectionestablished by engagement of contact I8 with contacts 13, T4 and H, asshown in Fig. 3. If the box should then be subsequently tripped, theground connection, having been already established at the box, permitsimmediate transmission over the ground circuit for a full cycle of fourrounds. During this last-named. cycle the spring con tinues' to unwindand thereby to move the plate 206' further outwardly so that at the endof the cycle the block 232 comes into the path of the lug 234, asindicated in Fig. 8. At this time the main spring has reachedsubstantial exhaustion. The box cannot thereafter be again tripped untilthe spring is rewound because the engagement of the parts 232. 234prevents the train from starting. The stoppage of the parts at adefinite place, indicated in Fig. 8, insures that the contacts PC areclosed so that the line is left in proper condition for transmission ofsignals by other boxes on the line.

The present invention also afiords protection by giving a suitablewarning following breakage of the spring. Spring breakage is notfrequent but" when it does occur is serious, because in the ordinaryform of box. it cannot readily be detected. In the box of the presentinvention if the spring breaks at any point the convolutions expand andthus cause the plate 265 to be swung counterclockwise, therebyunlatolu'ng the switch arm-I'M which operates to close contact H! .onthe grounding contacts l3, l4 and TI. When a permanent'ground. is usedat the central station, the establishment of the ground circuit at thebox through the engagement of these contacts gives a stroke on theemergency circuit signaling equipment. A warning is thus given that aground exists at some point on the line, and by usual methods of faultlocation it may be traced to the box, whereupon the spring may bereplaced. The box is therefore put out of service only during the timenecessary for discovery an repair of the-fault. a

The foregoing description of operation has assumed the use of apermanent ground at the central oflice which, as previously stated, isthe preferred system for use with boxes of the type herein described. Ifa permanent ground is not used at the central office the box itselfoperates in exactly the same manner, even though it is ineffective totransmit emergency signals until the ground circuit has been manuallycompleted at the central office. For example, in the case ofinsufficient Winding of the spring the emergency box connection will beestablished when the spring has unwound far enough to cause unlatchingof the arm MI. The box will then simply continue to transmit over theline in the normal manner if the line is in proper condition. At the endof the cycle, however, the box will not restore to its normal inactivecondition but will be left with the contact 18 in engagement with theemergency contacts. The usual routine test which is ordinarily madeseveral times a day will indicate a ground on the line. A groundconnection may then b manually established at the central ofiice untilsuch time as the fault can be located and corrected. After theestablishment of the ground at the central office the box, if latertripped, will still have suflicient main-spring energy to insuretransmission of a complete cycle through the ground circuit.

In the event of spring breakage in a system which does not have apermanent central oflice ground, no warning will be given at the time ofbreakage, but the ground established at the box will be detected at thetime of the routine test. Consequently, the box will be out of serviceonly during the interval between tests in addition to such time as maybe necessary for location and repair of the fault.

It will be observed that the present invention, while preserving all ofthe safety features of the apparatus described in the Beach patent, alsoprovides additional protection against other adverse conditions,particularly those which arise from breakage or approaching exhaustionof the main spring. While the invention has been illustrated anddescribed as embodied in a fire alarm box, it will be understood that itmay be employed for other signal apparatus using a normally woundspring, so long as a member actuated by the spring acts upon a circuitcontroller whil the spring is still conditioned to drive the apparatusthrough at least one complete operating cycle.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a signaling device having code signaling contacts and a normallywound operating spring for driving the device through a plurality ofoperating cycles, a circuit controller having emergency switch contactsfor connection of the code signaling contacts with an emergencysignaling circuit, and means actuated by engagement with the springduring unwindin thereof for abnormally conditioning said circuitcontroller to operate said emergency switch contacts to cause cod-esignaling through said emergency switch contacts while said spring isstill conditioned to drive said device through at least one completeoperating cycle.

2. In a signaling device having code signaling contacts and a normallywound operating spring for driving the device through a plurality ofoperating cycles, a circuit controller having emergency switch contactsfor connection of the code signaling contacts with an emergencysignaling circuit, means actuated by engagement with the the spring isstill conditioned to drive said device,

through at least one operating cycle following termination of the cycleduring which the circui controller is abnormally conditioned.

3. In a signaling device having code signaling contacts and a, normallywound operating spring for driving the device through a plurality ofop:- erating cycles, a circuit controller having emergency switchcontacts for connection of the code signaling contacts with an emergencysignaling circuit, means actuated by engagement with the spring duringunwinding thereof for abnormally conditioning said circuit controller tooperate said emergency switch contacts to cause code signaling throughsaid emergency switch contacts whilesaid spring is still conditioned todrive said device through at least one complete operating cycle, andmeans for maintaining the circuit controller in abnormal condition untilthe spring is rewound. 4. In a signaling device having code signalingcontacts and a normally wound operating spring for driving the devicethrough a plurality of operating cycles, a circuit controller havingemergency switch contacts for connection of the code signaling contactswith an emergency signaling circuit, means actuated by engagement withthe spring during unwinding thereof for abnormally conditioning saidcircuit controller to operate said emergency switch contacts to causecode signaling through said emergency switch contacts, means forstopping the device while the spring is still conditioned to drive saiddevice through at least one operating cycle following termination of thecycle during which the circuit controller is abnormally conditioned, andmeans for maintaining the circuit controller in abnormal condition untilthe spring is rewound. 5. In a code signaling device having mecha nismincluding a normally wound driving spring for transmitting a code signala plurality of rounds, stopping means operable for arresting operationof said mechanism only after com-' pleting an operating cycle comprisingtransmission of a certain predetermined number of rounds of the codesignal, starting means for said mechanism, a circuit controller, andcontrolling means rendered effective by unwinding of said spring forabnormally conditioning said circuit controller while said spring isstill effective to drive said mechanism for at least one additionalcycle following the next operation of said stopping means, saidcontrolling means including means for ren dering said starting meansineffective after operation of said mechanism for said additional cycleand before the energy of the spring has become completely exhausted. 6.In a code signal transmitting mechanism having a normally wound springfor driving said mechanism through a plurality of cycles of operation,normally closed signaling contacts op; erable by said mechanism,normally open con tacts for at times establishing a connection forsignaling over an emergency circuit, and means rendered efiective byunwinding of said spring for closing said normally open contacts tocause code signaling therethrough while said spring is still effectiveto drive said mechanism for at least one additional cycle. I 7. In acode signal transmitting mechanism having a normally wound spring fordriving said mechanism through a plurality of predetermined cycles ofoperation, stopping means controlled by said mechanism for arrestingoperation thereof only after completion of one of said cycles, startingmeans for said mechanism, normally closed signaling contacts operable bysaid mechanism, normally open contacts for at times establishing aconnection for signaling over an emergency circuit, and controllingmeans rendered effective by unwinding of said spring for closing saidnormally open contacts while said spring is still eifective to drivesaid mechanism for at least one additional cycle following the nextoperation of said stopping means, said controlling means including meansfor rendering said starting means inefiective after operation of saidmechanism for said additional cycle and before the energy of the springhas become completely exhausted.

8. In a code signaling device having mechanism including a normallywound driving spring for transmitting a code signal a plurality ofrounds, stopping means operable for arresting operation of saidmechanism only after completing an operating cycle comprisingtransmission 01 a certain predetermined number of rounds of the codesignal, starting means for said mechanism, a circuit controller,controlling means rendered effective by unwinding of said spring forabnormally conditioning said circuit controller while said spring isstill effective to drive said mechanism for at least one additionalcycle following the next operation of said stopping means, saidcontrolling means including means for rendering said starting meansineffective after operation of said mechanism for said additional cycleand before the energy of the spring has become completely exhausted, andmeans for maintaining the circuit controller in abnormal condition untilthe spring is rewound.

9. In a code signal transmitting mechanism having a normally woundspring for driving said mechanism through a plurality of cycles ofoperation, normally closed signaling contacts operable by saidmechanism, normally open contacts controlled by said mechanism for attimes establishing a connection for signaling over an emergency circuit,and means rendered effective by unwinding of said spring for closingsaid normally open contacts to cause code signaling therethrough whilesaid spring is still effective to drive said mechanism for at least oneadditional cycle and for maintaining said contacts closed until thespring is rewound.

10. In a code signal transmitting mechanism having a normally woundspring for driving said mechanism through a plurality of predeterminedcycles of operation, stopping means controlled by said mechanism forarresting operation thereof only after completion of one of said cycles,starting means for said mechanism, normally closed signaling contactsoperable by said mechanism, normally open contacts for at timesestablishing a connection for signaling over an emergency circuit,controlling means rendered effective by unwinding of said spring forclosing said normally open contacts while said spring is still effectiveto drive said mechanism for at least one additional cycle following thenext operation of said stopping means, said controlling means includingmeans for rendering said starting means ineffective after operation ofsaidmechanism for said additional cycle and before the energy of thespring has become completely exhausted, and means for maintaining saidnormally open contacts closed until the spring is rewound.

11. In a code signal transmitting mechanism having a normally woundspring for driving said mechanism through a plurality of cycles ofoperation, normally closed signaling contacts operable by saidmechanism, normally open contacts for at times establishing a connectionfor signaling over an emergency circuit, a circuit controller for saidnormally open contacts, a latch to hold the circuit controller normallyineffective, and a control member operated by engagement with the springduring unwinding thereof to release the latch.

12. In a code signal transmitting mechanism having a normally woundspring for driving said mechanism through a plurality of cycles ofoperation, normally closed signaling contacts operable by saidmechanism, normally open contacts for at times establishing a connectionfor signaling over an emergency circuit, a circuit controller for saidnormally open contacts, a latch to hold the circuit controller normallyineffective, a pivoted control plate having a follower to be engaged bythe spring when the spring reaches a predetermined state of unwinding,and means carried by the plate to release the latch.

13. In a code signal transmitting mechanism having a normally woundspring for driving said mechanism through a plurality of cycles ofoperation, normally closed signaling contacts operable by saidmechanism, starting means for said mechanism, a control member operatedby engagement with the spring during unwinding thereof and having a stopmember to prevent operation of the starting means, said stop memberbeing efiective only at the end of a complete cycle after the controlmember has been moved a predetermined amount by the spring and beforethe energy of the spring has become completely exhausted.

FRANK R. BRIDGES.

